On April 21 (local time), Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country was ready to reach an agreement with the US in the ongoing indirect negotiations, provided that Tehran's national interests were guaranteed.
Speaking in the capital Tehran, Mr. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran will only agree to a deal within a clear and fair framework, and warned that if the US avoids equal dialogue, Iran will pursue its own path.
President Pezeshkian said Tehran was not pessimistic or optimistic about its current progress, and reiterated that Iran was not seeking conflict but would resolutely resist any plot to put pressure from outside.
The Iranian leader's statement came right after the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington in Rome, Italy on April 19, brokered by Oman. The first round of talks was held in Oman's Muscat capital on April 12, with the participation of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei stressed that the prerequisite for all negotiations is the complete lifting of illegal sanctions.
He affirmed that Tehran does not accept the US's policy of " selectively defending" international law, and stressed that sanctions must be lifted visibly and effectively so that Iran can restore economic, trade and banking activities.
The Baqaei spokesperson also mentioned past experiences, especially the unilateral US withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2015, emphasizing that Iran needs irreversible commitments rather than empty promises.
After the second round of talks in Rome, the Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed that the two sides had achieved better understanding of a number of principles and goals. However, Mr. Araghchi warned Iran not to exceed expectations for the final result.
According to the plan, the expert-level technical talks between Iran and the US will take place in Oman on April 23, followed by the third high-level round of talks on April 26 to review the results and assess the prospects for a potential deal.
Meanwhile, Iran also called on the E3 bloc - consisting of the UK, France and Germany - to re-upload its active role within the framework of the JCPOA nuclear deal, rather than continue to pursue pressure tactics.
